narrate
Americanverb (used with object)
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narrates,
present (3rd person singular)
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narrated,
past participle, past
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narrating
present participle
verb (used without object)
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narrates,
present (3rd person singular)
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narrated,
past participle, past
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narrating
present participle
verb
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to tell (a story); relate
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to speak in accompaniment of (a film, television programme, etc)
Synonym Usage
See describe.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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narraternoun
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narratornoun
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misnarrateverb
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narratableadjective
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unnarratableadjective
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unnarratedadjective
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well-narratedadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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narratesimple
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narratessimple
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have narratedperfect
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has narratedperfect
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am narratingprogressive
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are narratingprogressive
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is narratingprogressive
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have been narratingperfect progressive
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has been narratingperfect progressive
Past
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narratedsimple
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had narratedperfect
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was narratingprogressive
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were narratingprogressive
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had been narratingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of narrate
First recorded in 1650–60; from Latin narrātus (past participle of narrāre ”to relate, tell, say”), equivalent to nār(us) “knowing, acquainted with” (variant of gnārus; see cognition) + -ātus -ate 1
Explanation
When you tell a story or describe something out loud, you narrate. You might hire a well-known actor to narrate your documentary film about circus elephants. One way to narrate is to comment on or describe visual images — photographs or scenes in a film, for example. You can also narrate a story simply by relaying the details aloud. In books, a character sometimes narrates the story as well. It appears that narration, or the action of telling a story, came before narrate, from the Latin root narrare, "to tell, relate, or recount," or literally, "to make acquainted with."
Vocabulary lists containing narrate
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Since first emerging online in 2019 on the online bulletin board 4chan, the Backrooms phenomenon has expanded across Reddit, TikTok, YouTube and gaming platforms, where users collectively map, narrate and extend its mythology.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 26, 2026
Giroux said, It is an attempt to discipline public memory by intimidating those who refuse to narrate the nation as innocent.
From Salon ● Mar. 2, 2026
Veteran British actor Emma Thompson, who is set to narrate the audiobook in English, is one of numerous celebrity admirers.
From Barron's ● Feb. 11, 2026
Otherwise, the book is entirely complimentary, as it proceeds to narrate Mr. Dylan’s subsequent lengthy creative rebirth.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 6, 2026
It takes cognitive toil and literary dexterity to pare an argument to its essentials, narrate it in an orderly sequence, and illustrate it with analogies that are both familiar and accurate.
From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker
The centerpiece is the three minutes where Travis calmly narrates the plane crash interspersed with him drumming, amid flames, in a way that captures each emotional beat of what he went through.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026
In recounting the story of the Nobels, Mr. Brunt also narrates Russia’s descent toward revolution and civil war.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 9, 2026
In the books and TV adaptations, Laura vividly narrates daily life on the prairie, recounting her adventures and mundane activities in such a way that many readers say they see themselves in adolescent Laura.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026
It’s told in the first person through Hatcher’s compelling voice as she narrates the horror and heartbreak of her lifetime over the course of a century, echoing William Faulkner’s literary style, which influenced Sarris.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 24, 2026
An Elder’s voice narrates, words in Tsalagi and talk of consequences.
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
And unlike the television version, the novel is narrated entirely by Jonasi's wives.
From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026
The popular content creator, who narrated BBC Three's I Kissed A Girl, previously hosted the Early Breakfast show for a period last summer.
From BBC ● Jul. 15, 2026
An audio version narrated by actor David Morse was on sale by early December.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 25, 2026
“Since the 1980s, LT has narrated every chapter of Lakers basketball, connecting generations of fans, players, coaches and staff while becoming a trusted and unforgettable part of the Lakers’ experience.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 16, 2026
More in a comforting way, like Morgan Freeman’s voice when he narrated animated movies.
From "From the Desk of Zoe Washington" by Janae Marks
Igby Rigney plays Ellis in “The Shards,” narrating from the future.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 5, 2026
His digital chorus, which includes personas for guided meditations and narrating fantasy tales, earns him about $3,000 a month.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 25, 2026
As the first plane in their journey ascends, Travolta’s distinct voice no longer feels like he’s narrating for a character.
From Salon ● Jun. 2, 2026
In his pursuit of answers, Roher employs a cloying framework: his loving wife occasionally narrating as if this were a storybook and Roher the protagonist of a scary adventure.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 27, 2026
I wasn’t cutting the frog open or anything, but I started narrating as Twig sliced, like Twig was one of those doctors on TV.
From "The Science of Breakable Things" by Tae Keller
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
